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'Never Too Late To Be Great'

Hi, I am Tom Caniglia, and my goal is to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Equestrian Eventing. When I reach my goal I will be the oldest man, 67 years old, to qualify for any olympic games in Equestrian Eventing. Most importantly, I am going to show the world that it is Never Too Late To Be Great.

Why I'm Raising Funds

In 1976 I qualified for the Montreal Olympics games but was not selected due to my limited financial resources. After 50 years, I have decided to fufil my life long dream of competeing at the olympics. This time I refuse to let my financial limitations stop me but in order to do that I need YOUR help. I am currently rasing $100,000 to be able to afford everything I need to get started. If you are able to help me show the world that it is Never Too Late To Be Great, here is what your funds will go toward:

Horses

Stable Rentals

Horse Care

Dually Crew Cab Diesel Truck For Hauling Horses & Equiment

Four Horse Gooseneck Trailer

Cross Country Saddle

Dressage Saddle

Stadium Saddle

Bridles

Riding Equipment

Britches

Boots

Jacket

Helment

Barn Equipment

Water Buckets

Feeding Tubs

Muck Tubs

Pitch Forks

The Story:

Tom was bitten by the horse bug when he was five years old. Tom’s uncle Eli Invited Tom to the Aksarben race track (Nebraska spelled backwards) to ride one of the lead ponies for the race horses that Eli owned. Tom spent 15 glorious minutes on that pony and was hooked for life. For the next couple of years Tom spent every possible minute at The Henry Dorley Zoo in Omaha, riding the 25 cent pony rides. He also spent nearly every day begging his parents for a pony. Finally when Tom was 8 his parents told him he could have a pony, but only after he received straight A’s in school and earned the money to buy the pony. His parent figured that was the end of that. It’s was very unlikely Tom could get straight A’s. Guess what! Straight A’s and after an entire summer vacation washing dishes at the family restaurant Tom earned the $250 he needed to buy his pony. It was another year before he earned enough for a saddle. Tom didn’t care. He figured riding without a saddle would just make him that much better of a rider.

Tom spent every night after school riding and grooming and taking care of his horse and of course all day on Saturday and Sunday. He spent his entire summer vacation putting up hay on a local horse farm in exchange for lessons and the chance to submerse himself in the horse world. He never thought it was hard work. He thought he had died and gone to heaven.

Soon Tom had joined pony club, started to compete in horse shows and learned the finer parts of riding and horsemanship. One rainy afternoon when Tom was watching the summer Olympics on TV he caught a glimpse of Three Day Eventing. He thought to himself, that’s for me. Someday I’m going there. He kept that thought to himself for a while, but it built up inside him until he couldn’t contain it any longer. He told his parent his dream, to compete at the olympics in Three Day Eventing, and was told that it was a stupid idea and that he would work in the family business like everyone else in the family.

Tom kept his thoughts to himself after that, but never gave up his dream. When Tom was 18 years old he packed up his entire life and moved east to follow his dream. He worked as a working student for former Olympic competitors and Olympic coaches as well. At the age of 24 Tom qualified for the 1976 Olympics but was not selected to go due to his financial limitations. Tom competed successfully for several more years at a competitive level but because of financial stress and mitigating circumstances Tom was forced to give up the horses, but he never gave up his dream.

Since then Tom has been involved in several successful non horse related businesses and raised a wonderful family and now almost 60 years later is ready to pursue his dream again. At 64 years old after an incredible amount of thought and consideration, Tom decided to try once again to qualify for the Olympics. This time in 2020. And why not? In the words of Tom himself, “It’s Never Too Late To Be Great.”

Thank You

First of all, I would like to say thank you to each and everyone of my booters for your help. The fact that you are willing to help me achieve my dream means more to me than you will ever know. Every kid has a dream and unfornately over time too many of those dreams are forgotten. Thanks to you and your help I am able to finally fufill my life long dream and words cannot express how thankful I am for that.

Thank you for joining our team and helping us show the world that it is Never Too Late To Be Great.

How Can We Help 'The Never Too Late To Be Great' Team?

There are a number of different ways that you can help our team.

First and foremost, just spread the word! I am trying to raise a very large sum of money and that will only be enough to get me started. If I want to really achieve this goal then I am going to need as many people on board as possible.

If you are able to, please donate. I am aware that this is a massive goal and more importantly I am aware that I cannot do this without you help. So please if you can donate, every little bit helps.

Sponsorships. Most of the things needed to achieve my dream can be supplied through buisness partners and sponsorships. So if you or someone you know would consider sponsoring me for any of the things I need, I would be beyond happy to partner with you.

Finally, again - spread the word! While we already mentioned this one word of mouth will inevidteably be huge in reaching my goal. Please consider sharing our campaign on social media or any other platform you see fit. Your help is helping me achieve my goal and together we are going to show the world that it is Never Too Late To Be Great.

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